After
3 days of alligators and hiking we visited some friendlier animals and hiked
some more

Red
Top Mountain is north of Atlanta near I-75. We hiked about 7 miles of
trails and saw about 30 of these guys.

We
also visited the Etowah Indian mounds and Pickett’s Mill Battlefield.

Tallulah Gorge was our next stop for two days.

We
hiked the trails around the Gorge but Judy hiked down into the bottom (600 feet)
while Bob took her picture from above. There is also a bike path that follows
the route of the Tallulah Falls Railway. It operated from 1898 until 1961.

Next stop
Hiawassee Ga.(5/26-6/2)

We’re staying
at a commercial campground (not too attractive) but finding anyplace was
difficult because of Memorial weekend.

Of course we had to hike to the top of Brasstown
Bald. There is a perfectly good shuttle but no…we had to walk.

We biked at a nature preserve called SmithgallWoods.

Note the different methods of creek fording.Can you guess which one forgot that when you pedal that your feet
go down into the water and youget wet shoes???

On 5/27 we had lunch in Helen, Ga and visited a
early 19th century stage coach stop.The tour guide was a historian and was very interesting.

On 6/2 we drove to Townsend, Tenn. on the
curviest road in the world. But it’s very popular with motorcycles.It connects with the Foothills Parkway where we had a great view
for lunch.

Cades Cove in the Smokies was a good spot for
Judy to search for the right log cabin.

Next stop- Jellystone Park near Gatlinburg, Tenn. for 2 days.Took a scenic drive near town to look at more log cabins and had a great
lunch at ‘The Burning Bush’.

“WILD
PONIES”

Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia is the best
place we have visited.It’s sort
of out of the way but is not very crowded and is beautiful.And they maintain a herd of wild ponies in the
highlands to keep the balds clear.

This is the
highlands where the ponies live.The
picture was taken from the top of another mountain. (see next picture)The Appalachian Trail runs across the top of the ridge and between the
two rocks on the right.

This picture was
taken from the highlands looking back at Pinacle Point where the other picture
was taken. Can you guess how we got there. (no.. we didn’t drive)